OAKLAND — State food inspector Earl Willis wept on the witness stand Wednesday as he described a desperate dash to escape gunfire unleashed by Stuart Alexander during a deadly shooting binge at Santos Linguisa Factory in San Leandro four years ago this month.

Willis dabbed away tears and quickly regained his composure as he told of running for his life while Alexander chased him from Santos Linguisa Factory about 3:30 p.m. on June 21, 2000.

“A lot of things were running through my mind,” Willis responded after Deputy District Attorney Paul Hora asked him what he was thinking as he bolted from his gun-wielding pursuer. “The argument I had with my wife that morning … I left on a sour note. I didn’t want that.”

Willis estimated five shots sounded behind him as he darted along Thornton Avenue, ducking his 6-foot-4-inch frame to make himself a smaller target. Willis said he peered over his shoulder to check his lead on Alexander and scan for refuge.

“I was running as fast as I could,” the former high school track athlete told jurors.

Willis pulled a hamstring bounding a 4-foot-high cable barrier. Willis said he only stopped sprinting after he looked over his shoulder a second time and did not see Alexander. Willis was about three-quarters of the way to East 14th Street.

Video recording shows Alexander returned to the Washington Avenue linguisa plant and finished off wounded state and federal meat inspectors Jean Hillery, Tom Quadros and Bill Shaline. Alexander reloaded as he went and took care to put a bullet in each of their heads, the video shows.

Willis had gone to Santos that afternoon with fellow state poultry and meat inspector Shaline and federal food compliance officers Hillery and Quadros. Alexander was out making a delivery, the inspectors were told by a worker who showed them around that day.

It appeared to the inspectors that the retail room coolers were packed with freshly processed linguisa ready for sale and falsely labeled as USDA approved. Tubs holding more than a half-ton of marinating ground pork were in a walk-in refrigerator. The plant had not met state or federal standards to legally produce sausage.

Willis said the inspectors were at their cars, about to leave, when he noticed Alexander steer a company pickup into the plant driveway. Willis told of waving to Alexander, who did not wave back.

Quadros waited outside while the other three inspectors went inside. Alexander came “roaring” out of his office and began “hammering” at Hillery, coming to within inches of the 54-year-old woman’s face, Willis said under questioning by Hora.

Hillery responded calmly, giving Alexander a copy of the Federal Meat Inspection Act after he challenged their authority, Willis testified.

Alexander ordered the inspectors to leave, but they coolly held their ground because they needed to document the situation, Willis said.

Alexander took pictures of Willis, Hillery and Shaline as they waited for police, who had been called by the inspectors and Alexander. Alexander pointed a finger at the three inspectors in succession, saying to each “You’re not going to leave, huh,” Willis recalled.

Alexander looked “relaxed and normal” and returned to his office, Willis said.

Alexander fetched a duffel bag from his pickup. Video surveillance camera footage shows Alexander evidently using a key from the bag to unlock a filing cabinet holding ammunition and three pistols used in a shooting spree.

Willis said the “hostile situation” made him leery. Willis remembered warning Shaline that Alexander had “squirrelly eyes,” the reference coming from a Western film the Clint Eastwood fan likes.

Hillery asked Willis to get a camera from Quadros, Willis testified. Quadros suggested the men swap places, with Quadros taking the camera inside and Willis waiting at the end of the driveway for police, Willis said.

Moments later, Willis heard what sounded like three shots fired in rapid succession. Videotape recording from the plant surveillance camera shows Alexander shooting Hillery, Shaline and Quadros down as he steps from his office into the retail room. Alexander burst from Santos shouting something to the effect of “I’m going to get you,” Willis testified.

“He was yelling at the top of his lungs,” Willis said, saying Alexander’s hands were behind his back until he cleared Silverglide’s Ford Mustang parked behind the pickup truck.

Hora picked up two of Alexander’s pistols and re-enacted the scene. Willis estimated Alexander was about 25 feet from him when he pointed a pistol at Willis. When asked what he did then, Willis replied, “run.”

Defense attorneys Jason Clay and Ogul contended after court that Willis bolstered their stance that 43-year-old Alexander acted in unreasoned rage against inspectors he believed were harassing him and destroying his family’s business.

“Mr. Willis proved Stuart Alexander was on edge and pushed over the edge,” Ogul concluded.

“I wonder if he was listening to the same evidence I was listening to,” countered Hora, who says the evidence is clear Alexander planned out the attack.

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